Hey guys, I appreciate the reviews that have been coming in! Even if you haven't been recently reviewing, I encourage you to do so now, because I'd still like to hear your opinions and whatever criticism you have! I love my readers, it literally makes me smile every single time I see the number of reviews go up. :D So give me more motivation to write! If you need inspiration to review, I'd like to know if the story, and this chapter particularly, seem confusing, and how I can fix that. Reading what I write to myself, it makes perfect sense, because I have families mapped out in my brain and whatnot. But I can imagine that some parts may be unclear, so speak up if you feel this way! Thanks. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Cats! or anything else related to this chapter. x.x

Demeter wiped one eye with the back of her wrist, taking a shuddering breath. "And I couldn't do it Bomba, because... it was Munk," she finished.

Bombalurina yawned widely and rested her head on her hand. Usually the crimson queen absorbed gossip like a sponge, but it was hardly past midnight and Demeter's sobbing had unfortunately jolted her awake. She blinked lazily up at Demeter.

"Demmy, sweetie, I know that this looks really, really bad, okay? Okay. So Munk is super annoyed. Tugger gets pouty like this all the time, I totally get it. Maybe it runs in the family, or it's like a tom thing. I don't know, it just sucks. You really just need to stun him. Shock him with your amazing good looks - which you know you have, because you're my sister." Bombalurina grinned, and Demeter rolled her watery eyes but smiled weakly.

Bomba tapped her claws against her chin, obviously thinking hard. Finally, she snapped her fingers and beamed. "Riddlebuss. You know how when a Protector chooses the next cat to follow in their paw steps, they throw a ball in their own retiring honor? Riddle's is in a few days; he and Old D want to have it before the season turns, even though he isn't dropping down from the position right away. One gigantic bash, plus dancing past sunset, and you looking your absolute best... equals you in Munk's arms by the end of the night. I'll make it happen, 'kay? Go to bed, you need beauty sleep."

Bombalurina winked and fell to her side, closing her eyes. In moments, she was breathing evenly. Demeter watched her and leaned back, closing her own eyes. Bombalurina bounced from tom to tom, but always ended back with Tugger. Something about that gave Demeter a feeling that her sister knew what she was talking about when it came to relationships, which was definitely reassuring. During the next three days, Demeter would try to forget about Munkustrap, focusing on settling back into the swing of things, and in four days, she'd have her tail intertwined with his. Toying with the cozy thought, Demeter drifted to sleep.

"Are you serious? He's with Cassandra again," Demeter spat, lashing her tail angrily. She was perched on a small sloping rock outside Jennyanydots' den, while the Gumbie cat herself lay splayed across her nest inside. Electra and Etcetera sat at her feet, batting at a ball of moss. Quaxo, being much younger than the girls, lacked the energy or interest to gossip. He was only hanging around to support Demeter, which she greatly appreciated. Etcetera scoffed when she noticed Demeter's glare.

"Cassandra flirts with most of the toms, Dem! She'll end up with 'Lonzo, he's always talking about how close they are. The real issue is how close your older sister and Tugger are," the younger queen said, losing her focus to watch Tugger strut by, consequentially being nailed in the face by a fastball from Electra.

Demeter bit her bottom lip. She had been stuck under Jenny's firm grasp for her little disappearing act last night, and had been maintaining her rock for days. It was finally the day of the ball for Riddle, and Jenny had graciously given her an 'okay' to go, under the condition that she'd rest up until right before it. Etcetera and Electra had decided to spend time with Demeter, in order to keep her from going insane from doing absolutely nothing for three days. Demeter had to give them all credit, especially the girls. With their mother in high 'fuss mode', Jenny was constantly worrying about her youngest litter. The motherly queen was quickly changing from endearing to annoying. Jellylorum had stopped by to check in on her daughter daily, but she wasn't much help. All she could offer were lectures along the lines of, "I really do think your leg is better, dear, but bear with what Jenny wishes. She's having a hard time with Alonzo and the girls growing out of kittenhood so fast, she just needs someone to worry about, and it really isn't doing much harm."

Demeter kept her eye on the sleek exotic queen, who was hanging off of Munkustrap's arm while he listened eagerly to whatever she was saying. She noticed Alonzo off to the side of them, watching awkwardly. Demeter felt a pang of sympathy for the black and white tom. When he was 'training' with Munk, he was in his element, but other than that, he followed Cassandra around like a Pollicle puppy. Electra sighed heavily and tipped her multicolored head to the side, expertly catching the moss ball on the tip of a curled claw.

"Demmy! If you want to separate Cassandra and Munk, just do it. Watch," she said, fixing her gaze on the mentioned cats.

"Munk! MUNK. Could you come here? I have a really, really, super important question!" Electra whined, while Etcetera grinned fiendishly and motioned for the handsome tom to come over. Munkustrap looked up, his gaze shooting immediately toward Demeter, who felt her face turn as red as her older sister's. He parted from Cassandra and made his way over, watching the ground. Electra grinned sweetly as he positioned himself in front of her and mumbled, "Yes?"

Demeter's breath caught in her throat as Etcetera shifted next to her sister and asked, "Me and Electra were wondering if you were taking Cass to the ball tonight?"

Munkustrap opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly, an orange arm reached out of nowhere and clapped in on the shoulder.

"Munku! Oi've been lookin' all ovah fo' yuh!" came the cockney accent of Mungojerrie. The orange tom grinned, oblivious to how awkward the tension was. Munkustrap cleared his throat and managed to plaster a grin across his face, much to Demeter's dismay.

"Jerrie! It's been forever since your owners left the windows open for you to escape - let's go find Tugger, I think he's out at the field," Munkustrap said, steering Mungojerrie away. Demeter's shoulders slumped and Electra shrugged. "Sorry, Dem, we tried. C'mon Etcy, let's go with them to find Tugger!"

As the two youngest queens scampered off, Demeter once again cursed her bad luck. Was he seriously thinking about going the ball with Cassandra? He was JUST about to ask HER to be his mate last night. "He has the brain of a mouse," she hissed under her breath, wrapping her legs underneath her.

"If you'd like, I could quite possibly make Cassandra disappear," came a muffled, amused voice next to her. Demeter turned and grimaced at Quaxo who only let out a purring laugh before curling back up again.

'I'm not going to beg and whine. No. Munkustrap will be crawling to my feet by the end of the night, if I have anything to say about it,' Demeter thought determinedly, watching Cassandra flounce by. She smiled down at Demeter, whose lip curled in disgust. Hmph.